Over 5,000 Flights Canceled on Monday After Winter Storm Fernando Hits Northeast

Another major winter storm has crushed travel in parts of the U.S. on Monday, cancelling thousands of flights, halting local and national train service, and putting thousands under a state of emergency.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), some areas around New York City, including parts of Long Island, got up to 20 inches of snow from Sunday into Monday morning, and parts of New Jersey, including Freehold, didn’t fare much better, registering 19 inches of snow overnight.

The storm is expected to essentially halt all travel on Monday, and it’s impact could last several days as crews and planes reposition. Here’s the latest:

Monday Flight Cancellations Over 5,000

According to FlightAware, as of 6:30 a.m. EST on Monday morning, over 5,500 flights have been cancelled, mostly in the Northeast, and mostly in the area’s busiest hubs.

That includes more than 500 cancellations at both JFK International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) in New York, the majority of those hubs’ schedules, and more than 400 at Boston Logan (BOS) and Newark Liberty (EWR), almost the majority of those schedules.

Other airports in the area seeing significant impact include Philadelphia International (PHL) at more than 300 cancellations, Reagan National (DCA), and Baltimore Washington (BWI).

The fallout from the storm is also impacting operations in areas not hit by the storm, as crew and planes are stranded in the Northeast. That includes Orlando International (MCO), Ft. Lauderdale International (FLL), Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), all of which are seeing higher than normal cancellations despite no snow on the ground at most of those hubs.

Regional Airport Closures

A number of the smaller, regional airports in the area have been ordered by the FAA to fully close on Monday.

That includes Atlantic City International (ACY), which is closed pending snow clearing; New Bedford (EWB); Wilmington (ILG); Long Island MacArthur (ISP), which is closed until at least 11 a.m.; Morristown Municipal (MMU), which is closed until at least noon; and Rhode Island T.F. Green (PVD), which is closed until at least 3 p.m. EST.

Airlines Waivers

While questions remain regarding how long the storm’s impact will disrupt travel, as of Monday, airlines are allowing most travelers to rebook their flights without penalty. Most of the waivers are expected to be extended once the full extend of the storm’s impact is better known.

American Airlines

American Airlines has issued a travel waiver for 17 Northeast airports, including major hubs and coastal cities such as Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), and Washington, D.C. (DCA and IAD). The waiver applies to those who purchased tickets by February 19 for travel originally scheduled through Feb. 25. Travelers can rebook their flights for travel beginning as early as February 20 or as late as February 26, 2026, without paying change fees or fare differences.

Delta Air Lines

Delta’s waiver now covers travel to, from, or through several key Northeast airports including Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA), Newark (EWR), Hartford (BDL), Baltimore (BWI), and Providence (PVD).

The waiver covers tickets issued on or before February 21 for travel from February 22 through February 25. Delta is allowing passengers to rebook for new travel on or before February 27, with both the change fee and fare difference waived. If travel is rescheduled beyond that date, the change fee may be waived, but a difference in fare will apply.

United Airlines

United has a “Northeast Winter Weather” waiver out for a number of airports, including Newark (EWR), Washington-Dulles (IAD), Washington-National (DCA), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), and Baltimore (BWI). The waiver includes all tickets purchased on or before February 20 for travel scheduled from February 22 through February 25. United will waive change fees and fare differences for new United-operated flights departing by February 27.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue has a waiver for travel through New York (JFK, LGA, and EWR), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Hartford (BDL), and several other regional destinations, covering flights through February 26. Passengers can rebook for travel through Friday, February 27, 2026, with no change fees, cancel fees, or fare differences.